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US to tighten entry rules

British travellers could soon be forced to apply for visas to enter the USA under draconian new plans revealed this week by the Homeland Security chief, Michael Chertoff.

The UK is one of 15 EU nations to benefit from the US visa-waiver programme, under which citizens do not require a visa if crossing the pond for business, pleasure or in transit. But the US administration, which is embroiled in a row with the EU over the provision of detailed personal information for all travellers, has warned that the ease of travel afforded by the scheme could be coming to an end.

Chertoff told European ministers that he "would elevate the level of security for all countries by having something called electronic travel authorisation, which would be an online submission of data - the kind of information you have in your passport, something similar to that - in advance".